Operating-table.



A. P. NIX.

OPERATING TABLE.. APPLICATION FILED APB. 1v, 191s.

1,086,844. Patented Feb. 1,0, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsHlN DDDDDDD c.

A. P. NIX.

OPERATING TABLE. Y APPLICATION FILED AP11.17, 1913.

1,086,844. Petented Feb.1o, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co., WAsHxNGToN, D. c.

A. P. NIX.

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 191s.

1,086,844. .Patented 111610.10, 1914.

l 4 sums-SHEET a.

whew@- COLUMBIA PLANOGQAPH Co.,\vAsH|NG-roN, D. c.

A. P. NIX.

OPERATING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED 11211.17, 1913'.

1,086,844. e Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. l Y

CQLUMBM PLANQGRAPH co..WASHlNG-roN. D. x:A

UNITED STAES PATENT FFICE.

ADOLPI-I NIX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR OF ONE-THIRD TO PAUL A. KAG-EL AND ONE-THIRD TO CONRAD NIX, BOTH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OPERATING-TABLE.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

BeV it known that I, ADoLrii P. Nix, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and

State of Illinois, have invented certain new operating tables and has for its object thev production of a table of this character which will be of durable and economical construction, adjustable to suit the same to different conditions, and which will be efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood b y reference to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table enibodying my invention, the saine being shown in extended or operative position.` Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a substantially central vertical longitudinal section of the table, showing the same in collapsed condition, Fig. 4C is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on line .crrn of Fig. 3, Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the table extended as illustrated in Figs. 1 and Q, and Fig. G is a horizontal section taken on substantially line yof Fig. 5.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a table consisting of two similar sections. Each of said sections consists of a base and a top, said top being formed of two spaced rectangular plates or boards 1 and 2 from which depend four posts 3, which slidably engage vertically extending sockets 4 provided in the legs 5 of the corresponding base as clearly shown in the several views. The arrangement is such, as will be oloserved, that free vertical adjustment of the top of each of the table sections is permitted. Said table sections are connected by longitudinally adjustable rods 6 formed of telescoping sections as shown, said rods 6 permitting of adjustment of the table sections toward and from each other in order to 'adjust the length' of the table as will be hereinafterdescribed."' This adjustment of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 17, 1913.

Patented rei. io, 1914.. Serial N0. 761,649.

the table sections toward and from each other is effected through the mediumV of a screw 7, one end 8 of which is threaded in a plate S carried by one of the table sections, said screw passing loosely through a corresponding plate 9 carried by the other of said table sections, the arrangement being such that, upon rotation of said screw, said table sections will be moved toward or from each other, depending upon the direction in which said screw is rot-ated, as will be readily understood. Manual rotation of said screw is effected through the medium of a crank handle 10 which is Xed to a shaft 11 mounted in the base of one of the table sections. Said shaft 11 carries a gear 12 which meshes with a pinion 13 fixed to the screw, the construction being such that upon rotation of the handle 10 said screw 7 will be actuated as desired.

Vertical adjustment of the top of each of the table sections is secured through t-lie employment of a screw 14 which is suitably mounted in the base of the table sections substantially centrally and vertically disposed. Said screw is held in its bearings against vertical movement, the upper end thereof being in threaded connection with a lug 15 which is formed upon a bracket 16 which depends substantially centrally from the under side of the table top, as clearly shown in the several views. rEhe arrangement is such, as will be understood, that upon rotation of the screw 1&1, the table top cooperating therewith, will be elevated or lowered depending upon the direction in which said screw is rotated. Rotation of each of the screws 14 to effect adjustment of the corresponding table tops is obtained through the use of a tubular shaft 17 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in the corresponding table section base, a bevel gear 18 being fixed to said shaft meshing with a bevel gear 19 provided at the lower end of the screw. A bevel gear 2O which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 17 engages against the opposite side of the gear 19 to serve as a reinforcement for said gear insuring constant engagement thereof with the gear 18. The tubular shafts i 17 provided in the opposite table sections are operatively connected by a square shaft 21, the respective ends of which loosely engage in the adjacent ends of the shafts 17, the openings through theV latter lbeing formed to correspond with the shape of the connecting shaft 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Thus an operative connection is established between the elevating mechanisms of the tops of the table sections so that said table tops will be moved simu]` taneously. In order to effect manual adjust-ment of said table tops, a crank handle 22 is provided at the outer end of one of shafts 17 as shown in the several views.

Hinged at 23 to the inner edge of each of the table top sections 2 is a leaf 24. The leaves 24 are adapted, when the table sections are moved apart, as clearly shown in` Figs. l, 2 and 5, to be elevated to span the gap between the same in order to present a continuous table top. Upward swinging of said leaves is limited by a plurality of straps or elongated thin flat bars said straps being secured to the table top sections 2 by means of screws or studs 26 which loosely engage elongated slots formed in the respective ends of said straps. The sections 1 and 2 of each of the table tops are spaced apart slightly as shown in order to permit of sliding of the ends of the straps 25 therebetween in the course of extension or contraction of the table. Swinging of each of the leaves 24 to and from operative position is secured through a pair of links 27 and 28 which are pivotally connected together at their inner ends, the outer ends of said links being connected one with the under side of the corresponding leaf 24 and the other with the corresponding table section base. The arrangement is such, as will be seen, that when said links 27 and 28 are folded together, as shown in Fig. 3, the leaves 24 will be disposed vertically or in inoperative po sition, and when said links are unfolded said leaves will be swung upwardly to hori zontal or operative position. This folding` and unfolding of the links 2T and 28 is et fected by bell crank levers 29 which are pivoted at 29', one arm of each of said bell crank levers being connected by means of a link 30 with the corresponding link 28, the other arm of said bell crank lever being connected by means of a link 31 with a lug 82 projecting from the corresponding bracket 16. The arrangement is such, as will be seen, that, upon elevation of the tops of the table sections, the links 31 will be moved vertically causing tilting of the bell crank levers 29, the latter in turn causing unfolding of the links 27 and 28 as will be readily understood. The links 31' are provided with elongated slots 33 which permit of relative movement of said links so as to permit of manual swinging of the leaves 24 to elevated or operative positions although the table tops are not elevated to such an extent as to cause swinging of said leaves to their operative positions. Helical tension springs 34 cooperate with the links 28 to normally cause folding movement thereof and so that when the table tops are lowered the leaves 24 will be automatically swung downwardly to inoperative positions. N ith the arrangement disclosed then it will be seen that upon vertical adjustment of the tops of the table sections the leaves 24 connected with. said tops will be simultaneously actuated, this entire adjustment being effected through rotation of the crank handle 22.

, The section l of the top of the table section which forms the head of the table is hinged at so as to permit of swinging of said section, when the table is in use, to better accommodate and support the head of the patient. Said section l is releasably locked in positions of tilting adjustment by means of a bar or plate 36 which is hinged at 87 at its upper end to said table section l, a thumb screw 38 cooperating with the longitudinally slotted lower end as will be readily understood. At the sides of the said section l of said head forming end of the table are provided hinged leaves 39 adapted, wihen not in use, to assume vertical or depending positions as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, said leaves being adapted to be releasably held in elevated or operative positions by means of spring catches 40 which are pivoted at 4l, the inner ends of said catches cooperating with stops 42 in the sup,- porting of said leaves in operative positions. Release of said leaves, with the arrangement disclosed, is effected by simply tilting upwardly the outer ends of said catches 40, in order to disengage the latter from the stops 42.

The upper sides of the table top sections 1 will be provided with suitable upholstering, a removable pad 43 of upholste-ring being arranged upon the leaves 24 when the table is in use as shown in Fig. 5. A table of the construction set forth is durable and economical in construction, because of the various adjustments afforded, the table is rendered applicable for use under various conditions and circumstances, and the construction employed permits of ready and expeditious adjustments of the table to suit the desires of the operator.

While l have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without depart ing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. y

Having described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

l. A table consisting of two relatively movable sections; means adjustably connect ing said table sections whereby said sections may be moved toward and from each other, each of said sections comprising a base and a relatively movable top; leaves adapted to be moved to span the gap formed between the tops of said sections when the latter are moved apart; and rotatable manually operable means for simultaneously vertically adjusting said table section tops and moving said leaves to or from operative positions, substantially as described.

2. A table consisting of two relatively movable sections; means adjustably connecting said table sections whereby said sections may be moved toward o r from each other, each of said sections comprising a base and vertically movable top; means for vertically adjusting said top, said means comprising a screw operatively connected with said top whereby, upon rotation of said screw, said top will be moved vertically; leaves swingingly connected with said tops of said sections adapted to be swung to span the gap formed between said tops of said sections when the latter are moved apa-rt; and an operative connection between said section tops and said leaves whereby the latter may be swung simultaneously with the vertical movement of the former, substantially as described.

3. A table consisting of two relatively movable sections; means adjustably connecting said table sections whereby said sections may be moved toward and from each other, each of said sections comprising a base and a vertically movable top; means for vertically adjusting said top, said means comprising a screw opera-tively connected with said top whereby, upon rotation of said screw, said top will be moved verti cally; leaves swingingly connected with said tops of said sections adapted to be swung to span the gap formed between the tops of said sections when the latter are moved' apart; and levers connecting said tops with said leaves whereby the latter will be swung simultaneously with the vertical movement of the former, substantially as described.

4. A table consisting of two relatively movable sections; means adjustably connecting said table sections whereby said sections .may be moved toward and from each other, each of said sections comprising a hase and vertically movable top; means for vertically adjusting said top, said means comprising a screw operatively connected with said top whereby, upon rotation of said screw said top will be moved vertically; a manually rotatable shaft in gear connection with the screws of said table section tops, whereby upon operation of said shaft, both of said screws will be actuated; leaves swingingly connected with said tops of said sections adapted to be swung to span the gap formed between the tops of said sections when thelatter are moved apart; and means connecting said tops with said leaves whereby the latter will he swung simultaneously with the vertical movement o-f the former, substantially as described.

5. A table consisting of two sect-ions, each section being made up of vertical hollow posts, a frame spacing said hollow posts in parallel relation, a table top above said hollow posts, solid posts dependent from said table top and telescoped in said hollow posts, a bracket depending from the table top, and a screw in threaded connection with said bracket and journaled in said frame; telescoping-guides carried by said sections and maintaining the latter in alinement; a telescopiing` shaft journaled in the frames of said sections; a bevel gear on the lower end of each of said screws; bevel gears on said shaft and meshing with the bevel gears on said screws, effecting simultaneous vertical movement of said table tops upon rotation of said telescopino' shaft, substantially as described.

6. A table consisting of two sections, each section being made up of vertical hollow posts, a frame spacing said hollow posts in parallel relation, a table top above said hollow posts, solid posts dependent from said table top and telescoped in said hollow posts, a bracket depending fromthe table top, and a screw in threaded connection with said bracket and j ournaled in said frame; telescoping gui-des carried by said sections and maintaining the latter in alinement; a telescoping shaft journaled in the frames of said sections; a bevel gear on the lower end of each of said screws; bevel gears on said shaft and meshing with the bevel gears on said screws, effecting simultaneous vertical movement of said table tops upon rotation of said telescoping shaft; and means carried by said sections adapted to move the latter toward and away from each other, substantially as described.

7. A table consisting of two sections, each section being made up of vertical hollow posts, a frame spacing said hollow posts in parallel relation` a table top above said hollow posts, solid posts dependent from said table top and tclescoped in said hollow posts, a bracket depending from the table top, and a. screw in threaded connection with said bracket and journaled in said frame; telescoping guides carried by said sections and maintaining the latter in alinement; a telescoping shaft journaled in the frames of said sections; a bevel gear on the lower end of each of said screws; bevel gears on said shaft and meshing with the bevel gears on said screws, effecting simultaneous vertical movement of said table tops upon rotation of said telescoping shaft; means carried by said sections adap-ted to move the latter toward and away from each other; movable leaves on said sections' and'?` In testimony whereof `I have signed my means on said sections causing movement of name to this specification in the presence of said leaves to positions spanning the gap two subscribing Witnesses;

between the tops of sa-idseetions upon Verti- ADOLPH P. NIX. Cai movement of said tops when said sections are separated, substantially as described. i

Vitnesses JOSHUA R. H. PoTTs, B. G. RICHARDS.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of lateuts` Washington, D. C. i 

